The ongoing lockdown in Sulu could delay the issuance of arrest warrants against nine dismissed policemen who have been charged over the killing of four Army intelligence officers, an official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
 
Prosecution Atty. Honey Delgado, spokesperson of the DOJ’s Office of the Prosecutor General (DOJ-OPG), said “the Criminal Information was filed on January 4, 2021.”
 
The information or charge sheets were filed before the Sulu Regional Trial Court (RTC) after Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Gilmarie Fe Pacamara found probable cause to indict the nine policemen with murder and planting of evidence based on the complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
 
“We are still awaiting for the issuance of the warrant of arrest from the court,” Delgado said.
 
“However, we were informed that Sulu is still on lockdown,” she added.
 
Because of the lockdown caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Delgado admitted “the courts might not be operating in its full capacity -- may or may not slow down the process.”
 
The case concerns the June 29 killing Maj. Arvin Indamog, Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Eric Velasco and Cpl. Abdal Asula, who were engaged in surveillance operations in Jolo against suspected suicide bombers.
 
Those charged are dismissed policemen PSMS. Abdelzhimar H. Padjiri, PMSg. Hanie U. Baddiri, PSSg. Iskandar I. Susulan, PSSg. Ernisar P. Sappal, PCpl. Sulki M. Andaki, Pat. Moh Nur E. Pasani, PSSg. Admudzrin M. Hadjaruddin, and Pat. Alkajal J. Mandangan.
 
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas has already approved the recommendations of the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to have the nine dismissed from service because of what happened.
 
However, the PNP said it has already released the nine, who had been in restrictive custody following the incident, since no arrest warrants have been issued against them.